July 28, 2024

A Safe Bet?


A Safe Bet?
Admit it, you've only ever seen one of these in a James Bond movie. The Russian Life files.

A new law program in Russia seeks to make gambling harder for those who struggle with it.

On July 25, Russian lawmakers in the State Duma drafted a law that would fine gambling operators for taking bets from citizens who have banned themselves from games of chance.

The law was submitted alongside a program that allows gamblers to add themselves to a database, that would mark them as "self-banning." It would be illegal for entities to offer betting opportunities to these persons. Those that do could face fines up to R100,000 (about $1200). 

This initiative seeks to combat gambling addiction, a mental illness that, according to the Duma, has only increased with the global rise in sports betting.

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Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
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A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
Okudzhava Bilingual

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Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

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At the Circus (bilingual)

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